Never on Sunday (1960)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Boring

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Jules Dassin wrote, directed, and co-stars in this Greek-infused play on "Pygmalion", wherein an American scholar vacationing in Greece becomes obsessed with reforming the most popular prostitute in the village: a fiery local who picks and chooses her men--and celebrates alongside all her paramours with an 'open house' on Sunday. Melina Mercouri gives a star-making performance as the passionate Ilya, though Dassin, who also co-produced the film uncredited, may have taken on more than he could handle. The character of the professor (who's actually lusting in secret for Ilya) doesn't make a lot of sense, and Dassin's actorly turn in this role gives us little to go on (he's a blank). We understand that educating Mercouri's Ilya, in effect, replaces her sexual desires with a quest for knowledge, but one isn't sure how the professor personally hopes to benefit romantically from this denouement--nor how his plan relates to the greedy landlord who keeps raising the rent on all the prostitutes in town. The music and the film's celebration of life (and sex without need for attachments, which Dassin tells us can be cured by true love) put the movie over at the US box-office, but only Mercouri's delicious performance remains memorable today. **1/2 from ****

To a committed hellenophile, this film represents all things that are great about Greece - the food, the music, the people.First, there is the incomparable music of Manos Hatzidakis, who won an Oscar for the title song.Then, there is Melina Mercouri, the star of the film, who won at Cannes for her role, as well as getting an Oscar and BAFTA nomination. The Minister of Culture after the fall of the dictatorship in Greece, she was magnificent.She later married the writer/director of the film, Jules Dassin, who received two Oscar nominations for this film, as well as a BAFTA nomination. Dassin is also well know for the film Rififi.Watching film is a trip back to the old Greece when the spirit was high and people lived life to the fullest. It is a trip worth taking many times.

Never on Sunday is a beautiful, down to earth, romantic comedy. It's a feel-good movie without the Hollywood over-sweetness. A well to do American is educated by a Greek courtesan who is not so sophisticated but full of life. And life proves to be more important then money or sophistication. And there even is a happy ending even though is one with a tear, if you a a sucker for such things. The music is prefect. The title-song is just great. The scenery makes you want to got to Greece for your next holiday. In an nutshell; this is one Greek Delight. Watch it on a cold Sunday and you'll get all warm inside. Watch it on a hot summers-night and you'll believe your in Greece already.

I believe so many of the reviewers have lost the true fun of the film. Of course the character that Jules Dasson is a chowderhead without much in the way of character. He seems to see himself as a great reformer. When I first saw the film in 1950, I thought he was terrible, but seeing the film again I realize that the character must be this way to show the difference between him, and the people of Greece.The fat whores in the very tight dresses were just wonderful. There chubby legs walking in time with the music to visit Mr. No Face was so very funny.In heavens sake, don't take it so seriously; sit back relax and enjoy the wonders of Greece and this includes Illa and her friends.